Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. W. NOBLE.

- GAR GOUPLING. 110.558,414. Patente 1-.14,1896.

1 25-1 13s-# l e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JoIiN w. NOBLE, or ANNIsToN, ALABAMA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,414, dated April 14, 189.6. Application filed February l0, 1896. Serial No. 578,692. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I', JOHN IV. NOBLE, a citizen of the United States, and a residentv of Anniston, in the State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My present invention has relation more particularly to that class'of car-couplers commonly known as automatic pin-and-link couplers, and the object of the invention is to so ilnprove the coupler that not only may the automatic coupling of the cars be more readily accomplished, but that the parts shall be so disposed as to much more effectively resist the shocks and strains and wear incident to service.

With this object in View my invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification. Y

A serious objection to the prior construetions of couplers is that after the draw-heads have been coupled together the gravity-pawls or like devices whereby the pins and links are sustained when not in use are not moved to such position as to be free from contact with the links or as to avoid being struck or pounded by the links as the draw-heads violently contact and recede, as constantly occurs while the cars are in motion.

By my present invention I have produced an improved construction of pin-and-link coupler in which the pawl or latch that sustains the coupling-pin in readiness to drop into the link, and also sustains the link in proper position for entering the opposite draw-head, will be held, when not in use, in such position that it will not be struck or pounded by the link while the cars are in motion.

Referring to the drawings, Figures l and 2 are views in vertical section through the opposing draw-heads of two railway-cars, the draw-head in Fig. l being shown with a coupling-pin dropped through the link and with the link in position to enter the mouth of the opposite draw-head, while Fig. 2 shows the coupling-pin raised in position to drop into provided at its front with the usual mouth i or opening to receive the coupling-link B. Through the draw-head A will extend the usual hole or openin g to receive the couplin gpin C. Vithin the upper part of the drawhead A is formed an opening a to admit a part of the pin-support D, this pin-support D being pivoted preferably by a pin or bolt d that passes through the pin-support and through lugs or ribs a that rise from the top of the draw-head A. The pin-support D has its lower end formed with a suitable angular portion or shelf CZ, whereon the coupling-pin will rest when the parts are in the position seen in Fig. 2.

The upper part of the pin-support D is preferably provided with the side portions d2, but in any event the pin-support has its weight so disposed with respect to the pivot-point d that the pin-support will not only serve to sustain or aid in sustaining the coupling-pin but when not in use will remain in such position that no part of the pin-support will be subjected to the pounding or striking of the coupling-link while the cars are in motion.

In the form of pin-support D shown the side portions d2 are separated such distance as to clear the coupling-pin C and its head, and the side portions d2 are shown as provided with lateral projections d3 to permit the pinsupport D to be more readily manipulated.

Upon the top of the drawhead A and at the rear of the slot or open space cis formed the stop a2, against which the pin-support D will rest when it is in position for sustaining the coupling-pin, as seen in Fig. 2.

The pin-support D is preferably so arranged as to rest against the front flange a3 at the top of the draw-head and preferably also the rear end of the pin-support is so shaped that when in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 it will come in close proximity to the vertical rear wall of the slot c. The purpose of this ar- IOO rangement is to save the pivot-bolt d and the lugs a' from the severe strains incident to the Vviolent bumping together of the draw-heads.

The bottom of the draw-head opening is depressed somewhat toward its rear, as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2, so that when the coupling-linkB is held thereon by the pin-support D, as shown in Fig. l, the outer end of the link B will be in proper position for entering the opposite draw-head. Preferably the lower end of the pin-support D will be slightly cut away, as at d4, so as to better retain the coupling-pin B in position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when cars are to be coupled together the coupling-link B will be set inpl'ace in one draw-head, as shown in Fig. l, the pin-support D being turned to the position there shown, so that the weight of the pin-support bearing upon the rear end of the link B will hold this link with its outer end raised slightly abovel the horizontal. The draw-head of the opposite car will have its coupling-pin C raised andthe pin-support D-turned to the position there shown, so that the end CZ of the pinsupport shall pass beneath the pin-hole of the draw-head and hold` the coupling-pin C in raised position. Now from a consideration of Figs. l and 2 it will be seen that as the opposite draw-heads are brought togetherl the coupling-pin B will strike thelower end d of the pin-support D, thereby turningv said pinsupport to the position shown by dotted` lines in Fig.V l and to the position seen by full lines in Fig. 5, thus permitting the coupling-pinv C to dropwithin the eye of the link B. At the same time the thrust upon the link B wilfl=cause the pin-support D of the draw-head (shown in Fig. l) to be turned from the position illustrated in full lines to that shown by dotted lines insaidfigure. 'Vhen the pin-support is in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, it is obvious that` no part of the pinsupport can be struck or pounded by the coupling-link as the draw-heads bump` together and@ vibra-te while thecars are in motion. Moreover, inasmuch as the ends ofthe pin-support D-are adapted to abut againstthe vertical portions of the draw-head it is manifest that the pivot-pin d will in great measure be `relieved from the strain incident to the violent action of `the drawdieads-` while the cars are in motion.

By my present invention I have provided .of a vertically-swinging pin-support having at its lower end an arm or shoulder to sustain the coupling-pin and having its upper part Weighted whereby said pinsupport will sustain said coupling-pin when said upper part is turned to a vertical position, and will remain in a horizontal position when turned thereto, substantially as described.

2. A car-coupler comprising the combination Awith the draw-head having a cut-away space in its top, of a pinsupport Dpivotally mounted so that its lower end shall swing within said cut-away space, said lower end havingfanV arm or shoulder to swing beneath the pin-hole and engage the coupling-pin, and the upper end of said pin-support being provided with forWardly-swinging weighted arms, substantially as described.

3. In a car-couplerthe combination withthc draw-head, of a vertically-swinging pin-sup port pivoted in the top of said draw-head, a suitable stop a2 against which said pin-support will rest when turned to vertical position, the upper part off said pinsupport being weighted andI adapted to rest normally upon the top-of the draw-head, substantially as described.

4. In a car-coupler the combination with the drawhead, of a ,vertically-swinging pin-support pivoted in its top, said pin-support extending to a considerable distance above its pivot-pointand having a part\(sueh forexample as the arms d2), adapted to turn in proximity to a raised part of the draw-head in order to-relieve the strain upon the pivot-bolt wheny the draw-heads are violently brought together, substantially as described.

5. In a car-coupler the combination with the draw-head having theinner face of its bottom higher at the front than at the rear, a pi votal pin-support mounted in the upper part lof thedraw-head and having an arm adapted IOO IIO

Itoswing down upon and retain in proper poan exceedingly simple, cheap, efective, and lsition the coupling-link when it rests on the durable construction ofautomatic coupler, .upper portion ofsaid bottom of the draw-head, the construction being such that the partscan` said pin-su pport `bein g Weighted upon the opbe readily cast and@ at an expense but little posite side ofits pivot-point, sothatwhen said in excess of the ordinary automaticcar-coupl Vpin-support is turned downward and toward ler such as lscommonly employed by freight- @a horizontal position it will there remain out cars. In practice the pin-support D of my lof contact with the link, substantially as deimproved coupler and the pin C will be pro iscribed.

vided with some suitable or familiar means f T D 1 such as a chain or lever, whereby these-parts JOHN r' b' OLLB 65 may be manipulated without the necessity of XVitnesses:

the operatorpassing between the ends of the cars, but any suitable one of the many famil- JNO. M. CALDWELL, W. F. JOHNSTON. 

